Vertical retort battery



2 Mar. 3, 1925. 1,528,228

` A.1. VANYACKEREN VERTICAL RETORT BATTERY 'originiriled Feb. 4, 1921 essheets-sheet 1 y J. VAN ACKEREN VERTICAL RETORT BATTERY LI\/1ar.3,1925.A ,Y v 1,528,228

Urigina Filed Feb. 4,

6 Sheets-She'et 2 C Mans, 1925. 1,528,228

J. VAN ACKEREN VERTICAL RETORT BATTERY original Filed Feb. 4. 192; esheets-sheet 4 SECT/ONA Qa-MM2.

J. VAN A VERTIGL RETOBT BATTERY CKEREN Mar. 3, 1V925v.

e Smets-sham;l s

'originali Filed Feb. 4, 1921- imei/ Mar. 3, 1925.

J. VAN ACKEREN VERTICAL lHEIORT B ATTERY 'origin Filed Febli., lggl 6sheds-sheet e @IIOM j2me/Z257 Patented Mar. 3, 1925. y

vUNITED STATES 1,528,228 PATENTA oFFicE.

JOSEPH VAN ACKEREN, OF PITTSBURGH. PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TO THEIKOPIIEJRS COMPANY, OF, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION vOFPENNSYLVANIA.'

VERTICAL RETORT BATTERY.

t y p Application filed February 4, 1921, Serial No. 442,357. RenewedJune 3, 1924.

To all 'ur/10m t may concern:

Be it known that l. Josnrn- VAN ACKnnnN. a citizen of the United States.residing in Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania. have invented a vnew and useful improvement in VerticalRetort Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention con'iprehends improvements in the art of vert-icalretorts. and has for an object the provision of a vertical retort that.ishighly eilicient in operation and which will produce high grade cokesuitable for metallii'rgzical use and etect a substantially completeby-product recovery` although the entire distilling operation u isconducted rapidly, in tacty within a considerably 'shorter period oftime than heretofore accomplished, and with great' conservation of heet.i

importantcharacteristics of the invention nre the provision ol' a systemof combustion in the flame or combustion titles ot the heating' wallso't the retort chambers, by which system flame or combustion ismaintained continuously in all of the fines olf each heatintt wall; thecombination of this improved system oit combustion with a completereversible regenerative system tor conserving the waste heat troni thecombustion tlues and imparting' such heat to the medium fed into suchtlues; the attainment of an ext renie flexibility in operationexemplified in the ready adaptabilit)v 'l'oroperation ot the re- ,tort`for operation altln'iiativcll.I with an (ixtrancously derived gras.such as tn'oducei' gras.

for 'l'ueL or with-the njas produced from the distillation ot the coalwithin the retort chambers. combined with the .provision of means torchanging'` at will the oven into one or the other oi itssievei'allntu'les ot operation; the attainment of freut efliciency ofcombustion within the flame flues of the heating' walls. notwithstandingthe fuel elnploved. such efliciency being exemplified in au evendistribution ot' the heat over the area otthe heating' walls and theprevention of flame concentration in said walls.

ln addition to the gcneral-ol'ijects recited above, the invention hasfor other objects such lother improvements or advantages in constructionand operation as are found to obtain inthe Structures and deviceshereinafter described or claimed.

In the accon'rpanying drawings, forming a partv of the specification,and showing, 'for purposes of exemplificntion n preferred-forni andmanner in which the .invention may be embodied and practiced. butwithout limit-- ing the claimed invention specifically to suchillustrative instance or instances:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevati-on* of a vertical retort'embodying' features above specified and constructed in accordance withthe improvements of the present' invention, the view being.,r taken in evertical plane indi 'ated by the line ---B of Figsf 2 and 4; A

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation oii' the same taken in a planeindicated by the line A-A of Figs. 1 and 4; i

Fig.` 3 another vertical sectional eleva tion of the saine taken in a'plane indicated by -the line C-C of Figs. Zand 4,;

Fig'. -l is a composite horizontal sectional elevation of the same tekenin different horilC--H F-F and G-G`ot Fin'. 1

Fig. 5 is another horizontal section of the saine tal-:en in thehorizontal plane indicated by the line -l'l--H of Fie'. 1;

' Fig. 6 is a top plan view ot the retort battery; and,

Fig. T is a bottoni plan view ot' the saine.

The same characters of reference vindicate the sume parts in each of theseveral views of the drawings.

l ln its present embodiment. the invention is incorporated in a retortof the vertical t'vpe and. 'tor convenience. the present descriptionwill be conljncd to thisnuse of the in vrntion: 'tentures ofconstruction' and operation are. ho-we\f'er. caluibleot"k other valuableapplications and consequently the scope of th-e inventionisgnotlconfined to the specific use and specific embodiment herein describedas an illustrative example.

Referring to the drawings,` there. are illustrated views of a verticalretort of the by- `zontal planes indicated bv the lines D-J),

which ,embodies yin .its construction a plurality' of intermediatevertically elongated retorts or coking chambers 12, 12, the heatingwalls and the retort chambers extendin to a great heiffht as comparedwith their respective widtl 1s and with the crosswise dimension of thevretort battery. The heating walls 11 form the side walls of therespective retort chambers 12, as shownyand the, opposite endsof therespective retort charnbers, as well as the heating walls are closed andreinforced by side refractory walls designated generally by thereference characters 13, 13. Beyond these side refractory Walls 13, 13and extending along the opposite sides of the retort l'mtter).T and fromtop to bottom thereotI are loca' mit and. chamber constructions utilizede the le generators and other parts hereniatter described.

The coal to be coked is charged into the retort chambers 12 throughcharging' holes A14: located in the,top ot' the retort and the finishedcolte is discharged through discharge openings 15 at the bottom of suchretort chambers. In order to facilitate discharge of the coke from saidretortchainbers, the side walls of the .retort chambers diverge towardthe bottom thereof, as shown more particularly in Fig'. Because ot thegreat height of the retort chambers as coup pared with their width andcross-wise de mension, the retort battery may be utilized asa continuousvertical retort. When so used, the chargingr holes 1t are le l't openand also the discharge openings 15. to pei-'init the continuous chargingof the coal to bc coked and the continuous discharge ol the tnishedcoke.

Heat for coking the charges of coal in the several retort chambers 1Qfrom the heating walls il :bore mentioned. Referring' now moreparticularly to Figs. 1 and 4, each heating Wall 11 is constituted of aplurality ot' vertical combustion ilues` 16 that are operativelydisposed into two groups I and K. the groups l ot' the sei'- eralheating walls being on one side ot' the central longitudinal partitions1T oi such walls and the groups l( being;l on the other side of thesepartitions. ii'hile the lauie iiues of the several ,groups l. on one,side ol' the partition li" are burning' downwardly. that is to say.operating' tor downliow` the, se\'e1'z.ilgroups l ol' thune lucsI on theopposite Side ol the aforesaid partitions li are, burning' upwardlyy oroperating `tor upflow. Reversal ot' the retort battery is eii'ective tocause the groups i oit heatingy lines to burn upwardly and coiuau'rentlythe groups" K o'l such tluesl to burn downwardly.

'lhe regenerators iti are inem'porateil in the. structures\\'hich,exteiul loi-igritiulinally alonpr the. retort battery at theoppositey endsoi the retort chambers l2 and the heatilnj falls l1. and.in the present, instance each regenerator extends vertically l'roni a'pl'ine above the bottoni hori'fzontal plane ole the heating' nails to aplane above the top horizontal plane oi such walls. s shown in Fig. 5.the several regenerators ot a retort battery are disposed into twoseries I and K that are respectively located on opposite sides oi thebattery. (lne series I of such regenerators coriespoiuls with and isderived is communicably connected with the ues of lthe groups I, and-the other series K of the regenerators corresponds with and iscommunicably connected with the several fines of the groups K. Eachseries of such regenerators is, moreover, grouped into pairs, thealternate pairs of each series of regeneratorsl being respectivelydesignated by the reference character L and the intermediate pairs ofeach said series beingr respectively designated by the referencecharacter M. Each such pair of'regzenerators is separated from the othercontiguous pair by means of a heavy vertical gas tight Wall 1S). and theindividual regenerators of. each pair are separated from each other bymeans of a vertical gas tight partition 20.

Each regenerator 18 is a chamber containing open brickwork, commonlycalled checkeru'orlr. and indicated at 21 with sole channels QQunderneath such checkerwork. the channels forming' the soles of suchchambers and 'pening'up into the checkerwork. The several regeneratorsare heated. in alterna'- 'tion. by the hot combustion products that areexhausted trom the flame or combustion tues hcreinbetore mentioned andthen impart such heat to the medium that they feed into these fiamedues.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the upper portion each regenerator 18 lopensup int-o a cross channel 23. that extends over the fines oi' the roupcorresponding to that regenerator and communicates with the respectivefines of such' group by means of ports 213' connecting the individuahtine 1G loo with such channel. rPhe-channels 23 ot the two series lspectively extend inwardly toward each other and. the channels ot oneseries of regenerators are separated from the channel ot the otherseries by means ot the central vertical partition 17 o't the heatingiwalls. The channel 23 of ono member of each group Il ot a series oirenenerators communicates with a single contiguous group ot combustiontlues corresponding to that series 'ot reienerators. and the channel 2?of the contiguous reeenrator ot the next adjacent ygroup IVI leads toand communicotes with the combustion fines oi the same lgroup oi thesame heating wall. According' to this arrangement. each group of com-fbustion fines is connected bv a pair ot chan` nels 2,3 with tivoregenerators of the correspondinfc' series. the regrenerators soconnected kwith the same `group ot combustion and K of regeneratorsrctheotherside of the battery are operating,r

for flow in the opposite direction. conscquently there islnaint'ainedflow in reverse directions through the regenerators that arerespectively positioned' on. opposite sides ot the battery. The reversalin flow throupjh the flame lues and their conununieabljl eonneotedregenerators nunA thus be ysaid to take place crosswise oz the batter)vand san-l1v reversal is effected at the end ot an operatiligj perioddetermined by praetieotlrr.means of any preferred type of reversing'mechanism parts oi which are illustrated in the aeconilnuiyiiur drawingsand will he hereinafter described. The function ol such reversal is as.follows: 'lhe ref fcnerators that' prior to the reversal operated asinflow regenerators become outllow regenerators land the outflowoperating' regnnerators heeome inflow operating regrenerators: theupburning groupsof flnes switch functions with the downburnine' groupsof lues on the oppo- Site side of the battery.

t the bottom ot each heating:` wall. there is located a horizontal orbusl flue 25. said .flue 25 being in eoinmunieatimi with all ot' theflame fines 16 ot its respective heating Wall. With this ('.onstructi n.the lower ends of thetiaine lines of the group I of leach heating wallcommunicate with the lower ends o1c th'e group K and consequently thedowntlow from one or" said groups of flame fines may pass into andupwardly through the other;

n the top of each heating' wall 11 there is provided a .seriesofvertically extendingA gras duets 26. which respettivel)y communicatewith the upper ends oi the individual 4llame fines lo ot the respectiveheating wall. Each sueh ,Q'as duct Q6 is provided with a suitable nozzle27 the discharge end of which opens up into a small Chamber 25% that isadapted tov function as a niixinfr elianilwr. as `will hereinafterappear. and eoinmuiueates through a port. QS) with the top of the.corresponding thune flue. As

. shown in Fien Q. the chamber 2S above each fiueis disposed between thetwo ports 24 which eonnet't such line with the channels 23- hereinbetorementioned.

Extending' througfjh the bottoni oli eat-.ir

heatinpiwall ll is a series of oas duets 30. the individual members owhich individually eon'unuuieate with the lower ends of the flame fineslt? of the corresponding heatin a` wall. The. several ducts 26 and 30are for the puri'rose of .supplyingr the ,gas formedv bythedistillationof coal in the retort to their respeetire connected combustion lues,when such gas is the medium employed as fuel. Any suitable mains ina)1be provided for conveying the Lras to auch series of ducts 526 and 3l).

As shownniore particularly in Figs. l and 5 long vertical channels 3lrespectively heating the medium entend downwardly from the top horizon-`tors` such as the groups L of the series l and the groups M o t` theseries K', and said vertical channels ill merge at their respectivelower ends into horizontal ehanuels 32 located beneath the horizontalchannels o-r bus 'flues 25 that connect the several llue's 16 of therespective lleating walls. Each said horizontal channel 32 is ifovidedWith ports 3S whieh open up into the before. inentioned horizontalchannel Q5 beneath the l'ues ot the group on the opposite side ofthecentral lonuitudinal partition 17 to that ol the regeneralor 18 withwhich such hori- '/.ontal channel 32- is eonnerfted through the inediinnof the intermediate vertical channel 31. "With this construction. thealternate groups L of regenerators of the series,

.l. are eommunicablv connected by channels and ports. with the lowerends of several lines of the groups K. whereas the intermediate groups Mof regenerators of the series K are coinninnicably connected b v similarchannels and ports Withthe lower ends of the several tlues of the groupsl.

'T he lower end of each flue ot both groups l and l( js conimunieablyconnected with a longvertival channel 34 which extends upwai-diy abovethe flue and communicates with the mixing chamber 28 above that flue bymeans ot. a port 35. These vertical chanrespectively beneath theregnnerators of the series I and K are Waste gras tunnels 256 and 37.The waste ,Las tunnel 36 that corresponds to the seriesl ofregrenerators is eonnected'with the sole channels 2.2 of the respectiveregenerators oi" said'series by means of flow pipes 38: the waste onstunnel 37 of the series K of regenerators is connected with the solechannels .22 of the re- 'sportive regenerators of said series by meansof flow when one series of said regenerators is ope-ratinp' vfor u plowto deliver preheated medium to theflues, the other series of saidregenerators is operating -for downftow to heat the cheokerwork for thepurpose of introduced into the regenerators on subsequent reversal.Coi1sefluently, Whenever avseries of refrenerators is operatingrfordownflow, all of the regen- 4 erators of that series are connectedwiththe pipes 39. As hereinbetore stated..

nelsl andtlieir ports 25 are for the pnrlltl waste gas tunnel and theupllow operating series of regenerators are shut ed from the waste gastunnelA For this purpose, there isl provided inq each (low pipe of theseries 38 a mushroom valve 40, and in each ow pipe of the series 39 amushr-ooni valve 41. The several mushroom valves l0 are respectivelyprovided with valve operating levers l2 and the several mushroom valves41 are also respectively provided with valve operating` levers 43. cableof the usual type is provided for operating in unison the sev eral valveoperating levers of the series 42, and a similar cable. provided toroperating in unison the several valve operating;r levers oi the series4?). rl'his construction permits all of the regenerators of one seriesto be placed in communication Witlrthe Waste gas tunnel Whileconcurrently cutting' oft' all ot the regenerators of the other `seriesfrom communication with the Waste gas tunnel corresponding to theregenerators of that series.

Arranged hineitudinally along that side of the battery or the l seriesof regenerators and corresponding;l thereto is a series of air inletports 4.4; on the opposite Side of the battery there is another seriesof air ports corresponding to the K series oll regenerators. The abovementioned series 44 comprises air ports corresponding in number to thepairs ot regenerators oi' the series l; these ports la respectivelyextend upwardly from the bottoni of the battery and communicate Withhorizontal channels Li6 which respectively extend around the bottonrofthe coirespondingl heating Walls, as shown in Fig. il, and thence eachcommuni cate with two vertical channels 4:7 which respectively lead intothe solechannels 22- oi the regenerators ct the series The series i5also comprises a number oi air ports extending upwardly from the bottomoi" the battery and connnunicatiim' al their upper ends respectivelywith .similarly surroundini,r air channels 48 `which are locatedbenealli the channels aforesaid and respectively each con'nnunicate withtwo vertical air channels 10 that 'lead individually to the solechannels 22 ot the regeneralors of the series l. lhe sliding bricks 50positioned in the bottoms ol. the sole channels Q2 of the regeneratorsol the series I control the flow trom the verti xal channels 47;similarly positioned slidi brielrs in the regenerators oi' the series Kcontrol the vflow 'from Jthe vertical channels ltcuding alone' that sideof the battery of the regenerators ol the .series l and cor. respondingthereto is a producer main F2 provided with valve controlled 'dmv pipeswhich are respectively connected with the flow pipes 3S ol thereeenerators ot that series. On the opposite side of the battery isanother producer gas main provided with ressens valve controlled pipeswhich lead to the flow pipes 39 of the series K of regenerators.

leferring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, each of the lues16 may be reached through access channels 56 which extend from thehorizontal channels 23 to the top ot the battery. These access channels56 are positioned in pairs over the tlues 1G, as shown in Fig. 2. 1^Similar access channels 5i' afford eommuiiialtion to the long verticalchannels 34, and additional .access channels 5S are provided forpermittingT communication to the long vertical channels 31. Slidingbric-ks 59 control the fioiv through the ports 2li of the lines 1G andthrough the long vertical channels 31.

As' herein'beforestated, one of the important features of the inventionis the attainment of an extreme flexibility in operation $35 ot theretort `battery, permitting a ready' adaptabilitpv *otlie batteryforoperation either tv .h an extraneously derived gasjsuch as producergras for fuel or with the retortv gras derived from theV distillation ofcoal in the coking chambers of the retort battery. These ends areattained, with a maximum oflicieney of combustion and heat conservationWhichever gas is employed as fuel, by the incorporation in a retortbattery of structural features and a ii'exible system of control, suchas has been described in connection with the present embodiment of theinvention. A number of important advantages and improvements made by theinven- 100 tion can, however, best be pointed out b tracing outseparately the operation of the invention, as exemplified in theaccompanying drawings, according to its several different modes ofoperation.

The operation of the retort battery, when using a relatively leanspecial generator gas, suph :is ordinary producer gas, for fuel is as tolouis: The supply of retort. gas to the mains supplying the `eas duets26 and 30 is 110 shut ofi' and a supply of producer gas is permittedtoilow into the producer gas mains 52 and 54. j tssumingN that theseveral reuenerators lcomprising the series are operating as inflowregenerators and 115 that the fines of thel groups I are operating asdownburningfines, Whereas the regenerators of the series K and the tluesof the lgroups l( are respectively operating as down-.flow reueneratorsand upburning 120 dues, as above described, it follows that durM iu thisperiod ot an operation alternate regenerators of the series l. areutilized for,

preheating the producer zjas which is sub sequently introduced intothetlues. The 125.. repenerat-ors intermediate such alternateregenerators of the saine series are" concurrently utilized forpreheatinp; the air to support-the combustion of the producer gas,Whereasall of the regenerators of the ee- 53@ ries K o crate yto convethe Wae ases to the exhaust tunnel 37 connected with such seriesof-regenerators. In adjusting the retort batteryv for operation with thespecial generator gas as fue'l, the sliding bricks 50 of thealternatepairs L of reo'enerators of the series l I are moved to cose the dis-.

charge ends of the vertical air channels 47 -which lead into suchregenerators, whereas ,the sliding bricks of the lntermediate' pairs Mof the same series of regenerators are operated to open the dischargeends of the vertical air channels 47 andv to place them in communicationvwith such regenerat'ors. Accordingly, the 4opening' 'of the valves ofthe as pipes 53 leading to the alternate pairs J of regenerators oftheseries I permits 'the special generator gas to,

v gas and air are delivered to each' of the flues of the groups Ithrough the ports 24 of vthe pairs of channelsf23 that communicate witheach group I of lines. In the severa lines of the groups I the gas,ignites in the air and burns downwardly, the Waste gases passing intothe horizontal channels 33 thatiare lo cated at the lower ends otsaiddownbuiaiing fines. From `these-.channels 33- the waste products flowinto the u'pburning fines of the Vg1oups".K,`which upburning lues aresupp ied with fresh gas from the horizontal gas channels 32 that areconnected by means oli' the long vertical channels 3l withthe tophorizontal channels 23iof the alternate pairs L oi regenerators of theseries I through'4 which a supply of gas is maintained, as hereinaboveexplained. The fresh gas which discharges intosaid upburning lues of thegroups Kthiough the ports 34- ignites inthe waste'gases delivered bytheconnecting channels 33, said iii-ast gases containing enough oncombinedoxygen to support the combuson t the gas in the upburning iiues. Fromthe top ot the upburning flues, which comprises all `the ducs of thegroups K, the waste gases discharge through the-hereinabove deiscrihed'ports 24, then pass into theseveral top horizontal channels 23that lead` to the several regenerators of the 'series K. Flowing-downthrough said regeneratorsoi" the scriesK,l :the waste gases finallydischarge through the sole channels 22 and through the -`open mushroomva'ves 4l of the-flow pipes 39 into the waste tunnel 37. 0nv reversal ofthe battery, by means of the reversing connectionsJhereinabovedescribed,

the several regenerators of the series I" operate as outflowregenerators and the sev? Passing through they at the time the mushroomValiesll() of the ilow pipes of such regenerators are open, and the gassupply connections are shut. The vmushroom valves 41 of the ow pipes ofthe inflow operating regenerators of the series K are closed and the gasvalve connections of' the intermediate pairs M of such' regeneratorsareopcn to'permit iniiow of gas. Air passes intoy the alternate pairs Lot' 4the regenerators of the series KQ The air and gas iiows from saidregenerators into the downburning fues comprisingthe eral ilues of thegroup I as upburning flues i groups K, and then into the upburning fluesol the group'I from which it discharges into the downflow operatingregenerators of the series I', it being understood that the operationai'ter reversal is essentially the same as that hereinabove described.The invention embodies a further inode of operation in that therelatively rich gas derived 'from `the distillation oic coal in theretortchambers may be used as the fuel,

while simultaneously there is maintained' both in the upburning and inlthe doWnburning fines a supply of a neutral gaseous diluent, vwhich hasthe important function' of greatly lengthening the flame produced bythis relatively rich gas, whether burning up or down, so as toequalize'temperature conditions throughout ainaximum area of theheating' walls and to prevent intense heat concentration in the upperand lower portions of the walls. Because of this heat equalizationpromoted by the present invention, the heating walls and, theintermefuel for the. retort battery, the following is the inode ofoperation: The supply lof the relatively lean-gas to the producer ,gasmains 52 and 54 is turned oli and the sup- `ply of the relatively richdistillate gas to the mains connected with the gas ducts 26 and 30 isturned on. vThe sliding bricks 5() and 51 of 'both series I andK ofrediate coking chambers may be constructed generators are ,adjusted toplace all of the regeuerators of both said series in communication withthe air channels 47 and 4:9.`

Assuming that the series I of regenerators are operating for infiow,v'the flue groups I lor downlow, the-flue groups K for upilow and theseries'K of-regenerators for by means of the gas ducts 26, and said gasHows through the nozzles 27 into the chambers 28 in which it is. mixedwith supplies of neutral gaseous 'diluent that passes into said chambersthrough" the ports 35 at the upper end of the vertical diluent supplylchannels 34 hereinabove described. The waste gas supplied to thesechannels 34 is derivedtroin the lower ends of the iues 16 ot' the groupsI. 'The gas admixed with the waste gas diluent ignites in the upper endsof said fines of the groups I and burns downwardly with long tiames insaid flues. The waste products from the bottoms of the downbu'rning luespass mainly through the horizontal channels 33 into the bottoms of theupbiirning flues comprising the groups K. To the lower ends of theseupburning fiues there is also supplied distillate gas from the' bottomgas ducts 30 and additional preheated air from the horizontal channels32 and the vertical channels 31, which as betorementioned, lead fromalternate pairs ot regenerators of the series I. There is thus suppliedto the upburn ing tlues from thebottoin of the retort battery distillategas, air and vwaste gas.v with the result that long llames are'maintained in the upburning fiues. The waste pro' ducts from Vtheupburning fines-pass out through the ports 24 at the top, thence intothe channels 25 and downwardly through the several regenerators of theseries K', which deliverthem to the waste gas tunnel 37. On reversal ofthe battery the entire series of regenerators K operate for inl-low thefines of the groups K become downburning lues, the flues of the groupsI-become upburningflues and the entire series of regenerators I operatefor outflow. The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied in aparticular form of con struction but may be variously embodied withinthe scope of the claims hereinafter. made.

I claim: y A i K l. In a `vertical retort battery, in combination: aplurality of high narrow retort chambers, each receiving through its topthe charge to be coked and discharging through its bottoni thecokedcharge; heating walls contiguousy to such retort chambers andrespectively constituted of two groups of combustion tlues`coiuuiunicably connected together at their loweiI ends, one

. group oi' such combustion flucs ot' each heat-v ing wall burningupwardly, while the other group burns downwardly; mixing chainbersconiiniinicating with the tops ot such combustion tlues and return wastegaspassages connecting thebottoms ot 'such combustion fines Awith said`mixing chambers; fuel gas supply means connected with the imamsaforesaid mixing chambers; fuel gas supply means connected` with thebottoms of such combustion flues'; two series of high narrowregenerators respectively companion to the upburning and downburninggroups of such combustion iiues, each series of regenerators beinggrouped into pairs, the individual members ot' which are conimunicahlyconnected. with a single companion group of said combustion lines;channels connecting the alternate pairs of regenerators of each serieswith the other group ot' such combustion iues; and means for reversingthe llow through said regenerators and their connected groups ot'coinbustion iiues; substantially as specified.

2. Ina Vertical retort battery, in combination: e. plurality ot' highnarrow retort chambers, eaclireceiving through its top the charge to becoked 'and discharging through .its bottom the lcoked charge; heatingwalls contiguous to such retort chambers and respectively constitutedot' two groups o1 com` bustion lues communicably connected together attheir lower ends, one group of such combustion tlues ot cach heatingwall burning upwardly, while the'other group burns downwardly; mixingchambers communicating with the tops of such combustion ues and returnwaste gas passages connecting the bottoms ot' such combustion fines withsaid mixing chambers; fuel gas supply means connected with the aforesaidmixing chain# bers; fuel gas supply means connected with the bot-toms ofsuch combustion flues; two series of high narrow regeneratorsrespectively companion to the iipburning and downburning groups of -suchcombustion lines, -each series Y,of iegenerators being grouped intopairs, the individual members of which are commui'iicably7 connectedwith a single companion group of said combustion iues; channelsconnecting so'me'of the 'regenera-tors of cach series with the othergroup of such combustion tiucs; and means for reversing the flow throughsaid' regeneiators and their connected groups of com bustion flues;substantially as specified.

3. In aV vertical retort battery, in combination: a plurality of retortchanilxirs, each re` eeiving through its top the charge to be coked anddischarging through its bottom the coked charge; heating Wallscontiguous to such retort chambers and respectively constituted ot' twogroups of"combustion i'lucs coniniuiiicably connected together at theirlou er ends. one group of such combustion luesI ot cach licating wallburnin up- ,maidly while the other group burns own- '\\'ardly; mixingchambers .commiiiiieating with the tops otsuch combustion fiues andreturn waste' gas passages connecting the lilli bottoms ot' suchcombustion lues with said mixing chambers; fuel gas supply meansconnected with the aforesaidmixmg cham- 'oit such combustion tlues;

and return Waste was lassaut-.s

/ amazes bers; fuel gas supply means connected with the bottoms of suchcombustion lines; two series ot regenerators respectively companion tothe upburning and clownburningI groups of such combustion fines,- eachseries of regenerators being grouped into pairs, the individual membersof which are eommimic-ablyY eonnectedwith a single companion group otsaid combustion fines; channels connecting the alternate pairs ot regelterator` ot' each series with the other group andr means l'or reversingthe flow through said rcgenerators and their conneeted'grmips ofcouilfmstion flues; substantially as specified.

i. In a Vertical retort battery, in combination: a plurality of high,narrow retort` chambers, each receiving through its top the charge tobe eolced and discharging through its bottom the eohed charge; heatingwalls contiguous to such retort chambers and respectively constituted oitwo groups ot combustion i'iues eommunicably connected together atthei'rlower ends, one grou p ot such combustion flues of each he Aingwall burning upwardly, while the other group burns downwardly; mixingchambers counuunicab ingr with the tops ot such combustion tluescornuictinu 'the bott'oms'of such combustion tiues with said mixingehan'ibers; 'fuel gas s'upply means connected' withthe aforesaid mixingchambers; fuel gassuppily moans connected with the bottol'ns of suchcombustion fines; and two series of highv narrow regeneratorsrespectively companion to the upburninu and downburning groups ot' suchcombustion ilues and communicably connected thorewith; substantially asspecified.

5. In a vertical retort battery, in cmnbination t. plurality .of retortchambers. cach receiving through its `top the charge to be coked anddischarging through its bottom the colted charge; heatingl wallscontiguous tol vsuch retort. cbainliers'and rcspectiwly constituted oftwo groups ot conilmstion lucs connnunicably connected together at theirlower ends, one lgroup oi such combustion fines o't' each heating wallburning' up-4 wardly, while the other ,group burns downwardly; mixingchambers communicating with the tops ot such combustion (lifes andreturn waste gas passages conncctingjr the bottoms ol: suchcor'nliustion thans' with said mixing chambers; iuel ras supply meansconnected with the aforesaid mixing;v chumbcrs; fuel tuns supply meansconnected with tbc bottoms-'ot' such combustion flucs; and two series othigh narrow rcpjcuerators ref-|nu-tivel v companion to the upburning anddownburning groups ot such comluistiou flucs and ,-polnmunicahlyconnected therewith; substantially as specified.

6. In a Vertical retort battery, in com bination: a plurality of retortchambers,

yand dow'nburnimgr burning groups of combustion tlucs come4 munieublyconnected together at their lowerV ends; mixing;h chamberscommunlcatiugy with the tops of said combustion tlues and return wastegas passages connecting the bottoms ot such combustion iues with saidmixing chambers; fuel gas supply means connected with the aforesaidmixingr chambers; fuel gas supply means connected with the bottoms ot'said combustion tluesrregcnerators respectively companion to theuplmrning and (lmrnlnurninaF tgroups ot said combustion fines, some otthe regenerators being also connnunicably connected with the other groupotl such comlnistion lines; and means tor reversingffthe (louthroughsaid regen erators and their connected oroupsof coinbustion lines;substantially as specified.

i'. In a vertical rctort'battery., in comliination: a plurality` ofhigi'hnarrow retort chambers; heating' walls contiguous to such retortchambers and respectively com.

stituted oi two groups ot combustion fines communimibly connectedtogether attheir lower ends, one group ot suchcombustion lues of eachheating' wall burning,r upwardly., while the other group burns downwardpanion to the upburning and downburninf'r` groups ot such combustiontlues, each series ot' regenerators being grouped into pairs; theindividual members of which are cominunicably connected Awith a singlecompan-l ion group ot said combustion tlues; chair nels connecting thealternato pairs of regencraters ot.l ea'eh series with the other group.

ot' such combustion fines; and means for reversing tue flow through saidregenerators and their connected groups of combustion flues;substantially as specified.

8. In a vertical retort battery, :in combination: a phu'ality of retortchambers; .heat- ,ingr walls contig-nous to such retort chambers andrespectively constituted of upburning groups of combustion luescommuncably connected together; return Waste gas passages connecting theopposite enelsel? the'individiuil combustion tlues; fuel gas supplymeans also connected with the opposite ends of said combustion lines;regenerators respectively companion tothe uphill-ning and downburninggroups -,i.rnecting the alternate pairs ot regenerators of each. serieswith the other group of such combustion4 lues; and means for reversingthe flow through said regenerators and their connected groups otcombustion tlues; substantially as specified.

3. In a vertical retort battery; in combination: a plurality ot retortchambers; heating vwalls contiguous to such retort rharnbers andrespectively constituted ot upburning and downburning groups otcombustion fines cominunicably connected together; return `waste gaspassages connecting the opposite ends of the individual combustiontlues'; fuelgas supply means also connected with the opposite ends ofsaid combustion lues; and regenerators companion to and eommunicabl)vconnected with such combustion tlues; substantially as specilied.

l0. In a vertical retort battery, in combination: aplurality. bt retortchambers7 each receivingl through its top the charge to beneked anddischarging through its bottom thekfoked charge, heating Wallscontiguous to such retort chambers and each constituted of bothupburning and downburning groups oft combustion lues; regeneratorsrespectively companion to the upburning and downburning groups ot suchcombustion tlues, each series of regenerators being operable inalternation tor inflow and outflow and the inflow operatingrre-generators comprising both gas and air regenerators, the gasregeneratorsbeing coinniunicably connected with both groups oi' suchcombustion tlues; substantially as specified 1l. ln a vertical lretortbattery, in combination: a plurality ol retort chambers, each receivingthrough its top the charge to be ookedand discharging through itsbottoni the coked charge7 heating Walls contiguous to such retortchambers and each constituted of both upburning and downburning groupsof combustion fines; regenerators respec tively companion tothe--upburning and downburning groups of such combustion fines, eachseries ot lregenerators being op erable in alternation for inflow 'andoutflow and the inilowoperating regenerators comprising both gas andair, regenerators; substantially as speciied.

12. In a coking retort, in combination: a retort chamber; a heatingwallcontiguous to ysuch retort chamber and constituted of a combustion flue;a mixing chamber communicating. with" one end of said combustion flueanda return Waste gas passage connecting the other end ofv saidcombustion flue with said mixing chamber; fuel gas supply meansconnected with said. mining chamber;

lot combustion llues ;,a fuel ply to said lucs an extraneously derivedgas,

such as producer gas; and means operable at will tor alternativelyadmitting and shutting oil`l sut-h fuel gas supplies; substantially asspecilied.

"14. In a retort battery, in combination; eokiug chambers;simultaneously upburning and downhurning groups ot combustion lues.combined with a regenerative system connuunicably connected therewith; afuel gas supply adapted to supply directly to both groups o fines gas ofdistillation from Ahe coking chambers; and alternative fuel supplyadapted to supply to some of the regenerators an extraneously derivedgas, such as producer gas; and means operable at will for alternativelyadmitting and shutting olli such fuel gas supply; substantially asspecified.A

l5. In a vertical retort battery for the rarbonization of coal, incombination: a group of vertical retorts adapted to have the chargespass through them from their top charging-holes to their bottomdischarge-openings and having their sides formed by heatingwallsconstituted of elongated vertical flame-flues adapted to subject thedescending charges to flame-heat substantially throughout the height ofeach retort; paired regenerators arranged alongside the group ot retortsand having con-` nections separately communicating with they llame-finesso that the'regenerators of each pair may be employed either separatelyfor preheating gas and air or both tor preheating air; and supplementarygas-ducts comf municating directly with the llame-fines independently ofthe regenerators and adapted to supply* fuel-gas that is not preheatedby the regenerators; the aforesaid regenerator connections andsupplementar` gasducts being respectively provided with ports leadinginto the vertical tlaxne-lli1es and so distributed that the descendingcharges in the retorts may be subjected to flame-heat substantiallythroughout their height irrespcctively of Whether the flame-fines aretired with regeneratively preheated lean gas or with unpreheated richgas, the ports for `air and both lti'nds'ot4 gas being grouped at "suchplurality ot' points that flames may be initiated atl different. levelsin the vertical lines. p

16. 1n a vertical retort battery for the earbonization of coal, incombination: a group of vertical retorts adapted .to have the chargespass through them 'from their top charging-holes to their bottom. disehmeopemn s and havint theii` sides formed y vertice ly elongatedmeeting-W1 ed of flame-fines ada. tedv te .fsu scending charges tothroughout the height of each retort; paired regenerators arrangedalongside the group of retorts and having conneetione sepei'etelycommunicating with the ameiuee to 'that the regeneratore of each pairmay be em plo ed either se aratelg for preheating? anti7 air or both' orpre eating; ait; antfsup plementery gas-ducts communicating die neatlywith the flame-titles independently of ame-heet substantially' 'seendingc larges in the retorts .jected to flame-heat substantially throu h'-the egenerators and adapted to 4supply fuelgas that is not preheated bythe regenerators; the vaforesaid regenerator connections andsupplementary gas-ducts being respectively rovided with ports leadinginto the flameues and so distributed in the verti cally elon ratedheating-Walls that the demey be subeut theii` height irrespeotively ofwhet er the flene-lues are ired with regenerative] peheated lean ges orwith unpreheated c gas. t

JosEPH VAN ACKEREN. f

